Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on this day while the common customs include decorating Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, eating with family and friends, and most of the time, waiting for the arrival of Santa Claus. Many people have told me that Christmas used to be special for them at some point when they were kids. They told me that the only reason that they enjoyed Christmas as much as they did was because they believed in Santa Claus. This is not what Christmas is about. Christmas is seen as superficial because you are “supposed” to give and receive gifts. But is this really what matters?
Christmas is a time of year where all of your loved ones can get together. It is a season full of cheer, happiness, and peace. This is what Christmas means to me and what Christmas is really about. During Christmas, you have the opportunity to spend time with your family and reunite with some members who live far away. To me, it is a celebration where you are able to decorate and go all out with Christmas decorations in your house, to cook with the family, to bake cookies the whole season. Christmas to me is not only on the 25th or as Latinos celebrate “Noche Buena” on the 24th. Christmas to me is the whole season. Having the opportunity to decorate my house with my family is the most magical feeling anyone could ask for.
Playing Christmas music gives the season a touch of magic. Listening to it spreads the joy and the Christmas spirit. It spreads cheer and to me, it gives a feeling of peace. And the most magical feeling of all, besides having the opportunity to spend time with family, is to see how the lights fill the streets. As simple as this sounds, to me, it is a magical feeling that spreads cheer, happiness, and peace. As the song goes, “lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer”. It’s the most wonderful time of the year and I can’t wait to spend this season with my family doing the things we love most.
